Chapter 643: Reciprocating Kindness by Passing Clues

Chapter 638: Returning the Favor: A Clue Delivered

Other strategists immediately countered, “Attacking Xiazhou again would incur heavy losses. Why shouldn’t we use the elite Ba Ling soldiers to assist us? The general cherishes his soldiers like his own children, and our Xunzhou army also needs to recuperate!”

After the great battle of Hanhe, the Yan army almost collapsed, and the Xunzhou army was also severely depleted. How could they possibly recover in just a few months?

Currently, Xiazhou’s troops are weak and their horses are exhausted. Even Zhao Pan, the general most skilled in defense, has been reassigned. If Nian Zanli could borrow the elite Ba Ling soldiers now, it would be a complete overwhelming of the weak by the strong, utterly defeating Xiazhou Governor He Chunhua and asserting dominance.

Defeat? Impossible! This kind of guaranteed victory, a game already in their favor, why would he refuse it? Why insist on a back-and-forth struggle and a bitter fight with Xiazhou?

The Xunzhou army was the foundation he had built over more than a decade, and it was also the force for his future conquest of the realm. It could not be needlessly depleted any further.

Nian Zanli looked at Lü Huansheng and smiled, “If you don’t have any good suggestions, then don’t speak.”

Lü Huansheng cringed and fell silent.

Someone nearby immediately said, “As for the annual tribute promised to National Master Shuangye and Ba Ling, there’s no need to worry. Once we conquer Yan, that small amount of money and silk can certainly be afforded. Just a few days ago, the Ke family spent seven or eight hundred thousand taels buying a sword hilt at Dunyuan. Is the vast Yan kingdom not even as wealthy as a single Ke family?”

Other strategists nodded, “That’s right, just a little more 'peace tax' will cover the shortfall.” The main thing is to win! As long as we win, everything else is secondary.

Lü Huansheng couldn’t help but interject, “Yan is short on money and provisions. It’s said that Zhao Pan’s army mutinied on their way to the Northwest, and had no choice but to plunder a few villages and towns, otherwise, all the soldiers would have deserted. Outside of Yandu, the people have been squeezed dry of their very essence; even the very ground has been scraped three feet deep. Where could they possibly dig up so much money and silk to pay National Master Shuangye?”

Nian Zanli’s chilling gaze swept over him, and Lü Huansheng immediately lowered his head. Other strategists quickly said, “As you said, *except* for Yandu… Yandu is prosperous, its officials are corpulent, and their treasuries are brimming with money and silk.”

Someone else reminded them, “The Grand Marshal in the Northwest has won several battles and is also intensifying his offensive. If we don’t use the Ba Ling troops, then…”

After the Battle of Hanshui, the Xunzhou army suffered heavy losses. In terms of troop strength, they were already inferior to the Grand Marshal. If they didn’t bring the Ba Ling troops south, the Grand Marshal might beat them to it and take control of Yandu.

“Exactly!” Nian Zanli broke into a slight smile. “Since the elite troops have been secured, Lü Huansheng, you will return to Xunzhou tomorrow to prepare provisions. We will launch our campaign against Yan within six months!”

Lü Huansheng could only assent.

Nian Zanli walked out of the tent, and, leaning on his sword, looked back towards the Northwest. He felt a sense of relief and satisfaction.

National Master Shuangye’s demands were indeed high, but how could one achieve victory without paying a price? With the elite troops almost in hand, before next summer, he would cut off He Chunhua’s head and use it as a wine cup!

He Lingchuan finished his pancake in a few bites, wiped his hands and mouth, and turned to walk towards the Heavenly Palace main camp.

Indeed, the Heavenly Palace had no need to display ostentatious carriages in the Grass Sea. They had directly sent a full camp of personnel, setting up ten tents at the best viewing spot on the sandbar, guarded by Heavenly Palace soldiers.

Chief Emissary Duyun was personally present today, and all arrangements here were exceptionally grand.

The open ground outside the camp was filled with kneeling commoners, densely packed, at least tens of thousands, so much so that the white sand ground was barely visible.

They prostrated themselves, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings, and mumbled incantations.

Both the Duyun Emissary and the Shoufeng Emissary were earthly envoys of the Heavenly God. Ordinarily, they resided high above the clouds, and humble commoners rarely had the chance to see them. Today, such a rare opportunity prompted all devout believers to rush here to worship.

Many families, old and young alike, prostrated themselves on the ground, exceptionally devout, willing to dedicate everything to the Heavenly God.

He Lingchuan walked among the kneeling crowd, finding it difficult to find a place to step.

As expected, he was stopped before he even got close to the camp.

The Heavenly Palace guards’ weapons gleamed brightly.

“He Xiao, envoy from the Chiyan Kingdom, requests an audience with Emissary Bai, to report a matter of great importance.”

A guard looked at him suspiciously, but the word “envoy” still held sway. One of them turned and went into the camp to report.

After more than ten breaths, he returned and said, “Please follow me.”

The additional word “please” told He Lingchuan Bai Ziqi’s attitude.

People came and went within the camp, busy like worker bees. After all, the Grass Sea event was about to officially begin.

He Lingchuan followed the guard into a small tent.

Bai Ziqi was speaking with someone. Seeing He Lingchuan arrive, he immediately dismissed the other person, and smiled at him, “Oh, He Xiao, what brings you to me?”

His position in the Heavenly Palace was very high, second only to the Chief Emissary Duyun, but he rarely put on airs when dealing with people.

He Lingchuan returned the smile, glanced around, but remained silent.

Bai Ziqi understood, waved everyone out of the tent, and rubbed his hands together, “Come, please sit, please speak!”

He had pondered He Lingchuan’s character for a long time, knowing that he wouldn’t visit without a good reason.

He Lingchuan indeed did not waste words, “Qingfu Temple, there’s a development.”

Hearing the words “Qingfu Temple,” Bai Ziqi immediately gestured for him to pause, first cast a soundproofing barrier, and then said seriously, “Continue.”

“Not everyone from Qingfu Temple died. There’s one survivor, a man named Kong Jiaxiang. On the day of the fire, he happened to be staying overnight with his lover, thus escaping the disaster,” He Lingchuan whispered this shocking news. “After learning of Qingfu Temple’s destruction, he quickly fled back to his hometown, Yangshui.”

Bai Ziqi listened to every word without missing anything, his expression grave: “How did you come to know this?”

Qing Palace was a formidable opponent, having swept clean every conceivable clue. He had mobilized manpower and resources, searching for so long without finding any useful information. How could He Xiao, who had just arrived in Lingxu City, have obtained it instead?

He Lingchuan was prepared. “After we captured Wu Kai in Baishaju, I sent people to investigate his background in his hometown. At the time, the feedback hadn't yet come in, so we escorted the prisoner away from Baishaju and came to Lingxu City.”

He handed over a dossier. “This is an account book that Yangshui County just sent to us. It records the background of Wu Kai’s relatives and friends in his hometown. Kong Jiaxiang, originally an accountant, is not only the brother of Wu Kai’s daughter-in-law, but also the temple priest of Qingfu Temple. Presumably, Wu Kai introduced him there.”

Bai Ziqi took it, and as he flipped through it, He Lingchuan explained.

“I’ve seen the list of deceased from Qingfu Temple, and Kong Jiaxiang was listed among them.” As the aggrieved party, the Chiyan Kingdom could inquire about the case progress, and Fu Shanyue had obtained the list. “By comparing it with the account book from Yangshui County, discrepancies between these two pieces of evidence were found. I’ve already sent a bird demon back to verify, and Kong Jiaxiang is indeed still alive, residing in his old house in Yangshui.”

The useful information in the account book had already been circled in red ink. Bai Ziqi scanned it quickly, and repeatedly praised it with several “good”s: “He Xiao is truly thorough. But why didn’t His Highness directly issue an arrest warrant?”

Yangshui was within Chiyan territory, so Fu Shanyue naturally had jurisdiction.

He Lingchuan whispered, “I feared alerting the snake, so I thought it better to trouble Emissary Bai.”

Bai Ziqi looked at him deeply. “Then please, He Xiao, thank His Highness for me.”

Fu Shanyue not arresting the person himself, but letting Bai Ziqi do it, was essentially ceding the credit to him. Because the Chiyan Crown Prince had frequently encountered danger in Lingxu City, the case’s prominence in both court and public opinion had not diminished, but had instead become even more widespread, with even the most remote villages outside the lower city discussing it.

Bai Ziqi had been working tirelessly on the Elixir of Immortality case for a long time, and recently, there had been no new developments. Both the Heavenly God and the Emperor frequently inquired about it, placing immense pressure on his shoulders.

If Kong Jiaxiang’s testimony could truly become a new breakthrough in the case, the Chiyan Crown Prince’s action would be granting him an enormous favor.

It wasn't that he had been ineffective in his investigation originally, but rather that the clue about Kong Jiaxiang absolutely required cooperation from Chiyan.

It was normal for people to go missing at the scene of a major fire. With such fierce, true fire burning, what was so strange about bodies leaving no trace? Several bodies were indeed missing from Qingfu Temple. If the account book from Yangshui County in Chiyan hadn't been sent, they would never have discovered that Kong Jiaxiang was still alive.

Qing Palace hadn’t found it either, so now he was finally a step ahead of his rivals. This opportunity must be seized well.

He Lingchuan smiled, “Certainly.”

With new clues in the Elixir of Immortality case, Bai Ziqi’s attention would shift, and he wouldn’t need to keep an eye on He Lingchuan anymore. Given Bai Ziqi’s caution and the current high public interest in the Elixir of Immortality case, he would likely go to Yangshui to apprehend the person himself.

During this period, He Lingchuan would have greater freedom, and it would be easier for him to conduct his affairs.

With the important information conveyed, He Lingchuan prepared to leave.

Bai Ziqi was in high spirits, personally escorted him outside the camp, and bade him farewell with a smile.

This scene was undoubtedly observed by many interested parties.

He Xiao himself was highly prominent, and he had entered the main camp of the empire’s highest authority under the watchful eyes of the public. Now, he was even being personally escorted out by the Duyun Emissary, and the two seemed to be chatting happily…

What had happened?!

He Lingchuan believed that National Master Shuangye certainly had informants here.

His transaction with National Master Shuangye seemed very simple, and it appeared he had gotten the better deal. In reality, how could National Master Shuangye, with his profound cunning, ever make a losing deal?

He had long seen that only He Xiao was the best person to deliver the clue about Kong Jiaxiang.

He was the initial investigator of the case, and the most significant progress in the Elixir of Immortality case so far had been investigated by him.

He Xiao was also the Chiyan envoy, and Kong Jiaxiang’s hometown was Yangshui in Chiyan. It was plausible that He Xiao would uncover this clue during his investigation.

Most importantly, he was an outsider, with no connection to National Master Shuangye. Therefore, the evidence he presented would have higher credibility.

Even Bai Ziqi, the most suspicious of all, would have to accept it.

Of course, He Lingchuan had shown some strange behavior in Baishaju, but none of it was related to Lingxu City.

After Bai Ziqi received the clue about Kong Jiaxiang from him, he wouldn’t bother with further verification. This also aligned with National Master Shuangye’s desire for a swift resolution.

Regardless of others’ gazes, and regardless of what reactions this scene might cause, He Lingchuan walked back.

The mirror in his embrace heard him sigh deeply, and also sighed, “After handing over the clue, you and National Master Shuangye are finally even. That took a long time.”

“Even?” He Lingchuan scoffed, “You’re thinking too simply.”

“Huh?” The mirror asked curiously, “The things you asked him to do, and the things he asked you to do, are all completed. Isn’t that being even?”

“‘Even’ means it ends here, with no further involvement,” He Lingchuan said blandly. “Do you think, after this, my relationship with Shuangye is closer or more distant?”